Lebanese Officials Slam Samaha’s Release as Protesters Block Roads Naharnet/January 14/16/Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday a court’s decision to release ex-Minister Michel Samaha from custody stating that it is “rejected by all means.”“Although I am not an expert on law, I know that releasing Samaha is rejected by all means,” said Geagea in a Tweet.
“How would I understand that a Lebanese has been released after conspiring with foreign parties to carry out acts of crime and explosions in his own country? What kind of message have the head of the court and the accompanying officers relayed to the Lebanese people after such a decision? What kind of hope and future have they left for the Lebanese and the sovereignty of the country?” asked an angered Geagea. “This is an evil time, but we will not give in and we will do everything in our power to get out of this to a better time!” concluded the LF leader. Later on Thursday, Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri condemned the decision to release Samaha, saying: “The officers’ unanimous decision is a gift to the criminal in the name of the law.” “The shameful and suspicious ruling is an award to the criminal and I will not remain silent over this issue,” he added. “At any rate, the Lebanese people have made their judgment against Samaha, saying that he is a criminal, who was caught red-handed,” he noted. “Such criminals deserve just punishment, which was laid down against numerous criminals of Samaha’s ilk in the world of organized crime,” remarked the MP. “Today we feel disgusted from the insufficient justice and we are fearful over the security of the Lebanese as long as the doors are open for criminals to escape a just ruling,” lamented Hariri. On that note, he saluted slain Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hassan and “the heroes of the branch, who are performing their duty in protecting Lebanon.” Later on Thursday, Hariri noted that “the first response to this legal heresy must be a draft law to revise the Military Court’s jurisdiction.” He also said that “those who are defending the criminal are worse criminals,” in an apparent response to remarks by Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad. Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat also condemned the military court’s decision, saying: “It is a strong blow to the great work that the security agencies have done and are still doing in combating terrorism.”“The decision encourages crime if not legalizes it,” he added. The Military General Prosecution agreed to release Samaha, who was an information minister from 1992 to 1995, on a 150 million Lebanese pounds bail, but prohibited him from traveling and making statements through various media. Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel also commented saying: “The Lebanese judiciary has given a message to terrorists stating that the penalty for drug trafficking and planning to bomb the Lebanese at foreign orders is only three year imprisonment.”Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi denounced Samaha’s releases saying:”We are living in a terrible time when criminals are allowed to get away with their crimes.”
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said: “We will have a response to Samaha’s release louder than members of the Syrian regime, who justify killing and bombings, believe.”On the ground, angry protesters took to the streets in Beirut and several areas, blocking roads in Beirut’s Qasqas, Barbir, Corniche al-Mazraa, Cite Sportive and Verdun as well as the vital highway between Khalde and Beirut. Protesters also blocked a road in the Tripoli area of Bab al-Tabbaneh. Samaha had been under arrest since August 2012 over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon. He pleaded guilty on all charges against him during his trial that kicked off in April 2015, admitting that he had transported explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon. But the former information minister said he had been the victim of entrapment because he was not aware that his co-conspirator was a Lebanese security services informer. He was sentenced in May later that year to four-and-a-half years in prison. Several politicians at the time condemned the light verdict. Syria maintained a nearly 30-year presence in Lebanon, withdrawing its troops in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But a series of assassinations of prominent anti-Syrian regime figures in Lebanon followed the withdrawal. The Lebanese judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Mamluk and sent Syria a formal notification of the warrant and charges, but received no response.
Michel Samaha granted bail
Now Lebanon/Janauary 14/16/BEIRUT – A former Lebanese minister found guilty of plotting terror attacks in collusion with a Syrian regime figure has been granted bail as his re-trial continues to slowly work its way through the courts. “The Military Court of Cassation has approved a request to release the detainee Michel Samaha on a 150 million Lebanese lira [$100,000] bail,” Lebanon’s state National News Agency reported early Thursday afternoon. In May 2015, Lebanon’s military court sentenced Samaha to four-and-a-half years in prison with hard labor after being found of guilty of “trying to carry out terrorist actions and belonging to an armed group.” Samaha was formally indicted in February 2013 alongside Syrian political security chief Ali Mamlouk on charges of “transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon to assassinate political and religious leaders.”The former tourism and information minister was set to be released from prison by the end of 2015 counting “time served,” as Samaha has been incarcerated since his arrest in August 2012. The military court’s light sentence in May 2015 sparked furor among March 14 protesters as well as Sunni residents in northern Lebanon, who were the planned target of the terror attacks Samaha was coordinating. In June, Lebanon’s Military Court of Cassation accepted an appeal to hold a re-trial of Samaha in-lieu of his short sentence. The re-trial has been be-set by a number of delays, only kicking off on December 17. In his first appearance before the court in his new trial, Samaha claimed he was a victim to entrapment. The next session of the retrial is set to convene next week. As the political furor grew over Samaha’s original sentence, a number of Lebanese TV stations on Thursday night aired excerpts from videos showing him caught plotting terror attacks in a sting operation. Samaha can be seen in the videos speaking with Milad Kfoury, an informant for Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces who the former minister entrusted with explosives and money in return for targeting political and religious figures in northern Lebanon. In one of the videos—which was filmed surreptitiously by the informant—Samaha hands Kfoury a bag filled with $170,000 and asks, “Should I count them?” The former minister also tells Kfoury that he has two explosive devices weighing 20 kilograms each, and adds that detonators have been prepared as well. Samaha can also be heard reassuring Kfoury that only Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his political security chief know about the plot and that the informant will be “100% protected.”In another video, the Lebanese figure states explicitly that the terror plot can target Akkar MP Khaled Daher, his brother, Free Syrian Army officials, and “a gathering of Syrian gunmen at a certain place.”Samaha also expressed his indifference regarding civilian casualties, telling Kfoury in the previous video excerpt that “collateral damage is allowed.”Yet another video shows Samaha handing over explosives to Kfoury in the former’s residence in Beirut’s Ashrafieh quarter.
Military Court Approves Release of Ex-Minister Samaha on Bail
Naharnet/January 14/16/The Military General Prosecution agreed on Thursday to release former Minister Michel Samaha on bail. He will be released from detention on bail of 150 million Lebanese pounds. The military court’s decision also prohibits the former minister from traveling and making statements through various media. Samaha’s lawyer Sakher Hashem later told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5): “My client will sleep at his house today.” “The decision to release him cannot be appealed in any way,” he added. Upon his return to his Ashrafieh residence, Samaha said: “I will respect court orders to refrain from making statements.” “My presence in jail was part of politics and I will resume my political career,” he remarked. Samaha’s next court date is set for January 21. Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi later condemned the military court’s decision, saying that he will “carry out what his national duties demand him to do.” Samaha, 67, has been under arrest since August 2012 over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon. He pleaded guilty all charges against him during his trial that kicked off in April 2015, admitting that he had transported explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon. But the former information minister said he had been the victim of entrapment because he was not aware that his co-conspirator was a Lebanese security services informer. He was sentenced in May later that year to four-and-a-half years in prison. Several politicians at the time condemned the light verdict. Syria maintained a nearly 30-year presence in Lebanon, withdrawing its troops in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But a series of assassinations of prominent anti-Syrian regime figures in Lebanon followed the withdrawal. The Lebanese judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Mamluk and sent Syria a formal notification of the warrant and charges, but received no response.
Geagea on Samaha Release: We Don’t Want Presidential Vote in State that Behaves This Way
Naharnet/January 14/16/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Gegaea on Thursday slammed the Military Court’s decision to release ex-minister Michel Samaha from jail as “a black day in Lebanon’s history.”“How can any of us tolerate the ruling that was issued today seeing that Samaha was conspiring with a foreign country?” Geagea said in an interview with MTV. “We do not expect a serious verdict from the same court that issued today’s ruling,” he added, in response to a question about the expected future developments in the case.“This ruling is definitely politicized and the political camp to which Samaha belongs played a key role in it,” he said, responding to another question. Asked whether the ruling will affect the ongoing deliberations over the stalled presidential vote, Geagea said: “If the presidential elections will happen in a state that behaves in such a manner then we don’t want these elections.” He also called on the March 14 youth organizations to hold peaceful protests on Friday to denounce the court’s decision. Earlier in the day, Geagea said the ruling is “rejected by all means.”“Although I am not an expert on law, I know that releasing Samaha is rejected by all means,” said Geagea in a Tweet. “How would I understand that a Lebanese has been released after conspiring with foreign parties to carry out acts of crime and explosions in his own country? What kind of message have the head of the court and the accompanying officers relayed to the Lebanese people after such a decision? What kind of hope and future have they left for the Lebanese and the sovereignty of the country?” asked an angered Geagea. “This is an evil time, but we will not give in and we will do everything in our power to get out of this to a better time!” concluded the LF leader. The ex-minister was arrested in August 2012 and charged with attempting to carry out “terrorist acts” over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon. Samaha was sentenced in May 2015 to four-and-half years in prison, but in June Lebanon’s Cassation Court nullified the verdict and ordered a retrial. Samaha, an ex-adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad, admitted during his trial that he had transported the explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon. He however argued he should be acquitted because he was a victim of entrapment by a Lebanese security services informer. Samaha, who was information minister from 1992 to 1995, would be released in exchange for a bail payment of 150 million Lebanese pounds ($100,000), according the text of the judgment.Under his bail conditions, Samaha, 67, would be barred from leaving the country for at least one year, speaking to the press or using social media.
Raad Criticizes ‘Malicious, Temperamental’ Statements Rejecting Samaha’s Release
Naharnet/January 14/16/Hizbullah top lawmaker Mohammed Raad has slammed as “malicious, temperamental and non-objective” the statements that criticized the release on bail on Monday of ex-minister Michel Samaha, who is accused of conspiring with Syrian officials to stage bombings and assassinations in Lebanon. “The furious and systematic statements that today rejected the Lebanese judiciary’s decision to release ex-minister Michel Samaha are an expression of distemper, malice and lack of objectivity,” Raad said in a press release. “This has always been their approach in power and in dealing with the judiciary, the administrations and public funds,” he added. “They have never heeded those who object against their injustice, corruption, squandering of public money and abuse of power,” Raad went on to say. Several leaders of the March 14 camp as well as centrist leader MP Walid Jumblat have blasted the Military Court’s ruling with ex-PM Saad Hariri describing it as “a violation of the feelings of the majority of the Lebanese.”The ex-minister was arrested in August 2012 and charged with attempting to carry out “terrorist acts” over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon. Samaha was sentenced in May 2015 to four-and-half years in prison, but in June Lebanon’s Cassation Court nullified the verdict and ordered a retrial. Samaha, an ex-adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad, admitted during his trial that he had transported the explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon. He however argued he should be acquitted because he was a victim of entrapment by a Lebanese security services informer. “The stance of this camp on the Military Court is a temperamental stance that changes according to its interests and it is not at all based on the law,” Raad added. “They were satisfied with the judiciary when it ordered the release of terror suspects and Israeli spies, but today they are venting their anger on it when it decided to free ex-minister Michel Samaha,” the lawmaker said. He stressed that there was “no legal justification” to keep Samaha in custody “after he served the jail term that was issued against him.” “Justice requires a reevaluation of the laws in practice — which had been passed by those who were behind today’s statements – instead of launching cheap attacks against judges and officers who issue rulings in line with the jurisdiction vested in them by the law,” Raad added. Samaha, who was information minister from 1992 to 1995, would be released in exchange for a bail payment of 150 million Lebanese pounds ($100,000), according the text of the judgment. Under his bail conditions, Samaha, 67, would be barred from leaving the country for at least one year, speaking to the press or using social media.
